slowly away, towards rear, came centre 5f out, soon weakened, tailed off
led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
slowly away in rear, weakened 5f out, tailed off
keen towards rear, rapid headway to chase leader 5f out, weakened over 3f out, tailed off
close up, ridden to lead over 2f out, headed approaching final furlong, no extra and lost 2nd inside final furlong
tracked leader., ridden and every chance over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up, pushed along and headway over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
hampered start, towards rear, tailed off
in touch, headway 3f out, led approaching final furlong, ridden out
tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, slightly outpaced over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong
raced wide in touch, ridden and weakened over 4f out, tailed off
raced wide tracked leaders, ridden and lost place quickly 7f out, eased 5f out, virtually pulled up
held up, headway 3f out, weakened over 1f out
close up, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and kept on to go 2nd inside final furlong
NonRunner
NonRunner
Funny Man won his first two starts for David O’Meara and has been very consistent since. He was probably a bit out of his depth in Listed company last time at Ascot but shouldn’t be left out of calculations here. Teodora De Vega steps up in trip again after a second over 1m4f at Ripon but should be thereabouts if she stays. CARAVAN OF HOPE (NAP) made hard work of landing the odds at Ascot but the way he stayed on to lead close home suggests he’ll relish the extra yardage and that victory should have given him some confidence. The ground may have gone against Starczewski but Celestial Force keeps knocking on the door and looks the pick of the older horses ahead of the penalised Battle Of Marathon.
Billy Ray 33-1 (8-12) Held up, always towards rear, tailed off final 2f, last of 30, dist behind Stratum (9-7) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcp stks (2) sft in Oct.
Celestial Force (IRE) 9-2fav (9-8) Led, driven when hard pressed over 2f out, soon ridden, headed inside final 2f, kept on, held towards finish, 2nd of 13, 3/4l behind Maid In Manhattan (9-0) at Nottingham 1m 6f hcp (3) hvy in Oct.
Master Of Irony (IRE) 6-1 (9-8) Towards rear, soon pushed along, never dangerous, 9th of 10, dist behind Addicted To You (9-9) at Chelmsford City 2m hcp (4) pol in May.
Battle Of Marathon (USA) 3-1 (9-8) Tracked leaders, headway to lead over 6f out, 3 lengths clear over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, driven out, won at Musselburgh 1m 4f stks (4) sft in Oct beating Tamleek (9-4) by 5l, 6 ran.
River Icon 12-1 (8-11) Chased leaders, every chance over 2f out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 12, 3l behind Sassie (8-10) at York 2m hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Belisa (IRE) 50-1 (8-13) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong, last of 12, 14 1/2l behind Specialise (8-13) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp fll (2) gs in Oct.
Funny Man 25-1 (9-1) In rear, pushed along over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, never on terms, 6th of 8, 17 1/4l behind Hereby (8-10) at Ascot 1m 6f lst stks (1) sft in Oct.
Employer (IRE) 3-1 (9-8) Keen in touch, ridden and headway to chase leading pair over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 6, 13 1/4l behind Battle Of Marathon (9-8) at Musselburgh 1m 4f stks (4) sft in Oct.
Caravan Of Hope (IRE) 5-6fav (9-5) In touch, pushed along and headway 2f out, ridden over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on, won at Ascot 1m 4f stks (3) sft in Oct beating Pianissimo (9-5) by 3/4l, 5 ran.
Overhaugh Street 6-1 (9-9) Led until over 2f out, rallied over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 13, 16 3/4l behind Well Funded (8-11) at Chester 1m 6f hcp (4) sft in Sep.
Mankayan (IRE) 16-1 (9-9) Raced keenly, chased leaders on outside, pushed along and outpaced 4f out, plugged on, 4th of 6, 18 1/4l behind Look Closely (9-2) at Leicester 1m 4f stks (4) gf in Sep.
Ginistrelli (IRE) 12-1 (9-2) Went right start, in rear, ridden and plenty to do over 1f out, switched to outer inside final furlong, driven and ran on strongly to lead final strides, won at Haydock 1m 6f hcp (4) sft in Sep beating Landa Beach (9-5) by nk, 7 ran.
Teodora De Vega (IRE) 7-1 (8-13) Held up towards rear, pushed along over 3f out, headway on outside when hard ridden and edged left 2f out, stayed on well inside final furlong, took 2nd last strides, 2nd of 10, 1 1/4l behind Tammooz (9-7) at Ripon 1m 4f hcp (4) gs in Sep.
Contrebasse 13-2 (8-2) In touch, headway over 3f out, not clear run over 2f out, switched right to challenge, weakened final furlong, 6th of 12, 5 1/4l behind Sassie (8-10) at York 2m hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Western Duke (IRE) 33-1 (8-6) Raced wide early, towards rear of mid-division, pushed along and hung left over 3f out, weakened soon after, last of 16, 13 1/2l behind Tamreer (8-8) at York 1m 4f hcp (2) gf in Aug.
Starczewski (USA) 14-1 (8-5) Held up in rear, niggled along over 3f out, ridden and effort when switched right over 2f out, no impression final furlong, 9th of 12, 4 3/4l behind Hamish (9-3) at York 1m 6f hcp (2) gf in Aug.
